Live Green! Newsletters 2011-12

Live Green! monthly

October 2011 Issue 2 - Volume 1

What’s Inside

• WeCar: Read about Iowa State’s new car-sharing service on page 2.

• Live Green 2010-2011 Highlights: Find out about the various impacts the sustainability initiative has made on campus last school year and this summer on page 3.

• Green Events: Don’t miss out on these exciting green opportunities! Flip to page 5 and choose the perfect way for you to get involved.

• Meet this year’s and summer’s Live Green! team: Get to know them on page 4.

Did you know?

Nancy Levandowski, Director of Campus Dining Services, was named Food Service Director of the Month for October. Levandowski’s highlighted work included the Farm to ISU program and her sustainability efforts.

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elcome (and welcome back) to Iowa State University! By now you all have likely settled into the daily rhythms of campus life, which is perfect timing for our first Live Green! newsletter of this academic year. For those of you who are returning to ISU, the Live Green! initiative, the solar trash compactors, recycling in the residence halls and “green” to-go containers are nothing new.

But for those of you who are new Cyclones, you may not be so familiar with how “green” goes with cardinal and gold.

In an overview, Live Green! is an initiative personally declared

by President Geoffroy and kicked off in 2008. Live Green! is Iowa State University’s campus-wide sustainability initiative encouraging all faculty, staff and students to be fully committed to and engaged in making our campus, its operations, and initiatives as “green” and sustainable as possible.

• Iowa State University (as the State of Iowa, the Board of Regents and the UN Bruntland Report) defines sustainability as: “Meeting the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.”

If you consider this definition, it’s easy to see that everything we do at Iowa State can apply. In other words, each of

Students clean up Campustown for CyServe on Oct. 8.

our daily actions and decisions, whether student, faculty or staff, has an impact on each of us and all the Cyclone generations to follow. And sustainability is just not limited to actions and decisions on campus; ensuring a sustainable future extends to activities off-campus as well.

A lot to consider, I know. And so Live Green! Monthly was created. Each month the Live Green! Team puts a lot of thought into providing you with updates on new green and sustainable initiatives and projects taking place, highlighting organizations and departments that support sustainability and offering opportunities (events, lectures, volunteering, etc.) to learn more about sustainability initiative.

This month’s issue is all about updates and introductions: updates on some of the many Live Green! highlights of last year and introductions to opportunities and the team that will be connecting you to them throughout this year. As you will see in reading this issue, there are many ways to leave a “greener” footprint. And every step counts. I look forward to working together this year!

Yours in greenness, Merry Rankin, Director of Sustainability

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CarWeCar Sharing:

Students at Iowa State have a luxury many college campuses don’t offer: free transportation via CyRide. Though sometimes having a car is handy, is it worth the hassle of paying to have a car on campus the whole year? Now, with the arrival of WeCar, students can take advantage of another option. WeCar, a branch of Enterprise Rent-A-Car, provides a car, when you need it, at an affordable price, through car sharing. For $8 per hour, a customer can use one of the two ISU WeCar cars, fuel and insurance costs included in the price. “It immediately benefits students and staff by … reducing net emissions on campus by lowering the demand for multiple cars,” says Director of Sustainability for GSB Alex Toth. “This truly promotes a sustainable experience on campus and bears precedent for future programs and further integration of sustainable initiatives.”

Students can sign up and fill out the rental application on the WeCar website, where they also make reservations to receive an electronic key that grants access to a car, located either at Eaton Hall or Linden Hall.

Another perk? WeCar waives the application fee for current students.

For additional information or assistance locating the cars, get in touch with WeCar contact Breanne Bolin at Breanne.D.Bolin@ehi.com.

Campus sustainability day

Way to go, Cyclones!

Along with fellow Regents institutions UNI and Iowa, Iowa State was awarded the Governor’s Environmental Excellence Award for outstanding accomplishments in and commitment to sustainability during the 2010-2011 academic year.

Brag it up

Share your sustainability stories, tips and ideas from composting to farmer’s market finds online by posting on the new ISUEco-Family blog.

Make your Voice Heard

We’d love to know what you think! Submit a story idea or give us your feedback about this newsletter at chatala@iastate.edu.

October 26 | 11 a.m. - 2 p.m. | Parks Library Lawn

Three Things You’ll Learn in This Issue

• WeCar is now on Iowa State’s campus! The car-sharing service provides a per-hour car rental.

• The Parking Division drove 10,089 less miles last year than in years past, thanks to a vehicle’s elimination and walking routes.

• The Arboretum clean-up, which took place Oct. 8 as a part of CyServe will be held again March 24 as part of Veishea Service Day.

Helping to increase visibility, National Campus Sustainability Day will be celebrated this year on October 26. Both campus organizations and local businesses are gearing up for a day of interaction. “With the addition of local Ames businesses this year, we’re hoping to promote more of a community atmosphere and provide an opportunity for students to learn about sustainable business practices and products local businesses are offering,” says Matt Santee, Green Umbrella co-president.

From 11 a.m.-2 p.m., the group will host an event on Central Campus outside Parks Library including music, videos, snacks, free bike tune-ups and coffee mugs and an opportunity to learn more about how to be involved in sustainability and living green. “It is [a day] to … continue to develop collaborative relationships among clubs and the community at large,” Santee says.

Look Ahead!

Turn to page 6 to find out more about exciting, sustainable opportunities available in November.

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2010-2011 year in review Sustainability by the Numbers

61,850

bubble sheets saved by offering paperless course evaluations

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annual dollar savings through the 14 projects funded by the Live Green! Revolving Loan Fund

4,000

board feet of lumber recovered from downed campus trees and used for campus projects through the university’s TreeCycle Program

90 4,825 50 23,000 42 7,800 148

percent of green-certified university cleaning supplies

tons of coal usage reduced by utilizing wind energy percent of classrooms that have completed energy-efficiency remodeling gallons of fuel saved through replacement of traditional Cyride buses with hybrids

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total solar trash compacters in operation on Iowa State’s campus tons of compost produced at the University Compost Facility from campus, farm, lawn, research and food waste on-campus tree plantings

33 4 900

tons of recyclable material collected through Greenhouse Group and the Department of Residence of 2011 marked the ribboncutting ceremony of the College of Design’s energyefficient Iowa House registered campus Green Teams made up of students, faculty and staff dedicated to making a section or process more sustainable LEED-certified buildings on campus: Morrill and Hach Halls, King Pavilion and Biorenewables Lab mattresses recycled (instead of landfilled) by the Department of Residence

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disposable coffee cups per day not used thanks to ISU Dining’s 35-cent refill discount for reusable mugs

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pounds of clothing donated to local charities through the Department of Residence’s annual moveout collection event

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low or no-emission cars currently in the University Transportation Systems’ fleet

10,089

miles not driven by the Parking Divison through the elimination of one vehicle and the incorporation of walking enforcement routes

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water refill stations available across campus 3

Meet the live green! team 2011-2012 Interns Corrin is a senior pursuing a major in journalism and mass communication, with minors in political science and history. She is currently the editor in chief of Ethos magazine, a studentrun publication on Iowa State’s campus. Through her work with this newsletter and other marketing projects, Corrin can be a voice for your organization event or initiative.

Campus & Community Engagement Contact her at chatala@iastate.edu.

Chandra Peterson

Chandra is a fifth-year senior in political science and philosophy with minors in classical studies and business. She is very involved with The Green Umbrella and the Campustown Action Association.

Chandra is a resource for students, organizations and connectiong ISU and Ames sustainability events and opportunities. Contact her at chandrapeterson27@gmail.com.

Marketing & Communications

Corrin Hatala

Summer Interns Alicia Adams

Alicia is a fourthyear landscape architecture student at Iowa State. She spent the summer working as an intern for Live Green!, where she spent most of her time designing the soon-tobe-released “Working Toward Our Sustainable Future: Live Green in Review (2008-2011).” The rest of her internship was spent doing small graphic design products for Live Green! events.

Also working as an intern this summer, Chandra Peterson created a resource for Iowa State students – a database of sustainable-related and focused courses categorized by college and department.

Students looking for sustainability courses will now have a new resource to use, based on standards from the Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education. The database will be available on the Live Green! website soon.

The Rest of the Team Gina Holtzbauer is the Live Green! Team’s go-to person for everything from scheduling meeting space to keeping everything and everyone organized.

Gina wears all these hats – and more – for more than just the Live Green! Team. She also serves as Administrative Secretary for the Associate Vice President of Facilities Planning and Management.

If you need to get into contact with any member of the Live Green! Team, Gina is a good resource.

You can contact her at gtholtz@iastate.edu.

Merry Rankin

Merry Rankin is the Director of Sustainability for Iowa State University. Merry’s primary role is to promote and grow the Live Green! initiative. In this role, Merry is a resource for all sustainability initiatives at Iowa State University inclusive of environmental, economic and social sustainability and offers assistance in identifying opportunities, resources and partnerships to grow, strengthen and diversify these initiatives. Merry may be contacted at mrankin@iastate.edu or 515-294-5052.

Gina Holtzbauer

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2011

october events

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Filmmaker John Heide will show his documentary about family farming and hold a discussion following the screening at 7 p.m. in the Sun Room of the Memorial Union.

Create spoon jewelry out of used silverware with Robbie Helzer at the Workspace in the Memorial Union.

You can even recycle forks and knives! The session begins at 12:30 and ends at 3:30 p.m.

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National Campus Sustainability Day Fair in the Free Speech Zone in front of Parks Library from 11 a.m.-2 p.m. to learn how to be more green in your own daily life!

October

Add your event!

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Any campus, community, or local event that supports sustainability – environmental, social or economic – can be added to the Live Green! Calendar online.

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Still searching for the perfect Halloween costume? Head to Random Goods, Ames’ own resale and costume shop, located at 2410 Lincoln Way.

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Kerry Dixon-Fox, project manager and architect for ISU Facilities Planning and Management will discuss how LEED is changing construction at Iowa State for the greener!

Keep in the Live Green! loop...

Like Live Green! Iowa State University on Facebook Follow @ISULiveGreen on Twitter

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CYSERVE|PHOTOS

This year’s CyServe event, held Oct. 8, involved ISU students, faculty and staff alike. Volunteers are pictured above cleaning up at the Arboretum and in Campustown. In two hours, 30 volunteers at the Arboretum collected more than 25 trash bags of garbage, said Matt Nosco, a leader of the Arboretum project.

Want to get involved? The next Arboretum clean-up is scheduled for March 24, as a part of Veishea Service Day.

Mark your NOVEMBER calendar

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Attend Gregory Jaffe’s lecture on Genetically Engineered Foods: The Naked Truth at 6 p.m. in the South Ballroom of the Memorial Union.

Frances Moore Lappe, author of 17 books, will discuss her latest book, EcoMind, at 8 p.m. in the Great Hall of the Memorial Union.

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Participate in the Farm to Fork Panel Discussion at 7 p.m. in the Campanile Room of the Memorial Union. The discussion, hosting diverse panelists, will explore how local food travels from producer to consumer in Ames via retail and ISU Dining.

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Look for Live Green! at the Memorial Union! Learn more about Live Green!, living green and getting involved.

Head to the Green & Main Sustainable Renovation Series at 9 a.m. at the Wallace Centers of Iowa in Des Moines.

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Live Green! monthly

November 2011 Issue 2 - Volume 2

What’s Inside

• Sustainable Thanks: Turn to page 2 to discover ways to add a little green to your turkey day.

• Turkey Talk: Is buying a turkey a daunting task? Let us simplify your search on page 3.

• Self-Sustainability: It’s a busy time of year at Iowa State. Make sure you’re being socially sustainable. Check out our tips on page 4.

Three things you’ll learn

1. A Tofurky is made of tofu, a soybeanbased product, and just one of many options for your Thanksgiving feast.

2. You can save an average of 10% of your electric bill by turning electronics off instead of leaving them in “stand by.”

3. Keep Iowa State Beautiful has campus “adoption areas” inside and outside that need volunteers.

Students attend Campus Sustainability Day on Oct. 26.

Autumn Greetings!

to ensure the Live Green “crossroads” you may encounter over the next few his issue of Live Green Monthly weeks have plenty of opportunistic is focused on timing… timing of possibilities. From giving “greener” the year, timing of the semester thanks to ensuring a “greener” you, to and timing of the season. This timing sustaining your community to greening brings the complexity and details of your energy bill, this issue considers the holidays; project deadlines and the options available to you in class, at final exams; and colder weather and work and at home this time of the year. shorter days. This timing also brings • challenges and opportunities related to sustainability and living green. Taking a little time to consider your opportunities and decisions – and With this in mind, we have focused this their impact – not only increases newsletter on suggestions and ideas your “greenprint,” it also saves you

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money, reduces your demand for energy (which also reduces the resources used to supply demand) and strengthens the sustainability of your on- and off-campus communities.

Thank you all for the time you take and the commitment you make in bringing that much more “green” to Iowa State University and our sustainable future!

Yours in greenness,

Merry Rankin,

Director of Sustainability

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giving

Sustainable thanks Put some green in your Thanksgiving this year, and reduce the impact of your celebration using some of these helpful suggestions.

Decorations

Invitations

This year, create your own holiday decorations.

Check with a local florist to see if they have flowers or greenery they can’t make use of, or use items in your environment to make homemade wreaths or centerpieces.

For example, leaves in fall colors can add a festive touch with candles and other items.

While paper invitations may be your family’s tradition, consider trying one of these paperless options: • Create an e-vite, a digital invitation, that can be sent directly to your guests.

• Get on the phone! This option also gives you a chance to figure out specific details, such as dietary needs, who can come and what everyone can bring to share.

Local farmers might also have colorful ears of corn and gourds for sale to add to your centerpieces.

Food

The turkey: There are many turkey options to choose from at the grocery store; so try not to be overwhelmed when shopping! Turn the page to find out more about turkey-buying lingo.

The produce: Locally grown produce is a great option, especially this time of year.

Shopping locally supports local producers and the local economy. Look for local produce at your grocery store or cooperative, such as Wheatsfield in Ames, as well as organic fruits and vegetables. For other options, check out the Buy Fresh, Buy Local website for a listing of local producers in Iowa and other midwestern states.

The options: Although there is a “traditional” Thanksgiving meal that normally comes to mind, there are plenty of other options. Be creative! Consider trying new, local foods.

Consider an all-local theme that can include foods produced within your state or region.

Waste and Clean-up

One of the most noticeable ways to green any occasion (and every day) is to look for opportunities to reduce waste that goes to the landfill. Make sure to dine with reusable dishes, even if it requires a little extra clean-up time.

Before you slide food remnants into the garbage can, consider other options.

If you don’t want all your leftovers, your guests might be willing to help out. Encourage guests to bring some “to-go” containers with them that they can fill and take home, or consider purchasing some inexpensive containers to provide to your guests.

You can also check with local shelters to see if they are in need of leftover food donations, or look to your compost pile. Even if you aren’t an active composter, food scraps can be mixed with leaves to make a nice soil additive.

Don’t forget to recycle aluminum cans and plastic containers. Reuse them, too, when possible.

Cleaning up after a big meal can be a daunting task, but it can also be a green one. Mix your own non-toxic cleaning supplies. You can also purchase green cleaning products that are biodegradable, non-toxic and are not made from non-renewable sources such as petroleum.

For more ideas, click here.

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Types of turkeys Thanksgiving’s main course: turkey.

Although the Broad-breasted White turkey is most often thought of for the traditional Thanksgiving meal, there are a number of other options from which to choose when shopping.

Keep reading to learn more about some different options to consider adding to your day of thanks.

Heritage Breed, Organic, Vegetarian

Heritage turkeys are the ancestors of the Broadbreasted White turkey and, although nearing extinction in 1990, are making a comeback on the Thanksgiving table.

Though smaller than the Broad-breasted White, they are known for their rich flavor.

Organic turkeys are fed with grains grown organically or through approved methods that, according to the • Cage-free turkeys are not confined to cages, but they don’t USDA National Organic Program, necessarily have access to the outdoors at all times, or at all. “integrate cultural, biological, • Free range turkeys are not confined to cages, and these turkeys have access and mechanical practices that to the outdoors. “Free-range” can include grass, sand, dirt or even concrete. foster cycling of resources, • Pastured turkeys are housed and/or ranged on pasture, with grass, legumes and insects promote ecological balance, and conserve biodiversity.” Under comprising a significant portion of their diet. As such, they may or may not be “organic.” this definition only approved • Day range pastured turkeys are free to roam outdoors in large pasture during the day, dietary supplements may be used. and are housed inside a permanent or semi-permanent coop at night, with no cages.

Cage-Free, Free Range, Pastured

Vegetarian-fed turkeys are fed strictly vegetarian diet. These birds cannot go outside on pasture since foraging for “bugs” is not considered a vegetarian diet.

Turkey-less

Another turkey you might see at the grocery store is a no-turkey turkey, or Tofurky.

Tofurkys are made of meat alternative ingredients including tofu (a soybean-based product) and offer a vegetarian and vegan friendly option for Thanksgiving.

Interested? Visit your local grocery stores to see what options they offer.

Dining, Seasons Marketplace and already purchased 91 turkeys from Union Drive Marketplace, Hawthorn Rolling Acres Farm in Atlantic, Iowa, Market and Cafe and the MU Food operated by Larry and Denise O’Brien, Court, complete with turkey, ham, and pictured above.

ISU Dining will offer “A Special potatoes and other seasonal dishes.

And while 91 turkeys may not seem Dinner of Thanksgiving” on Nov. 16 Farm to ISU Marketing Representative like a lot, the gobblers weigh in at a at Conversations and Knapp-Storms Kevin Marquardt says ISU Dining has combined total of 1,327 pounds.

What about

ISU Dining?

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Sustainability for you...

Being truly sustainable requires sustaining yourself.

Make use of these opportunities to ensure your sustainability during busy times.

Student Activities Center • Looking for a laugh? Attend Grandma Mojo’s Moonshine Revival, Iowa State’s very own comedy troupe, on Nov. 16 or 30 at 10 p.m. in the M-Shop.

• Grab some friends for movie night, and head over to the Cyclone Cinema, located in Carver 101. The featured film of late November, Cowboys and Aliens, will be shown at various times Nov. 17-20.

• Be a part of this year’s Winterfest, held Dec. 2. Play bingo, be hypnotized by Al Snyder or help fundraise to help fight local and global hunger.

Recreation Services If you’re tired of tromping on the treadmill or just can’t find motivation to exercise, take advantage of Recreation Services’ many offerings.

• Sign up for a group fitness class!

Classes range from kickboxing and ballet to cycling, aquacise, yoga and tai chi. Students with an ISU ID Card can participate for free, while other cardholders are assessed a $30 fee.

• Work one-on-one with a qualified fitness trainer, who will create a personalized program.

• Sign up for the ISU Wellness Center’s newsletter by e-mailing barclay@iastate.edu.

ISU Dining Explore ISU Dining’s website to find resources devoted to your health.

• NetNutrition is a service that explains the nutritional values of foods you have consumed.

According to the website, it “is a good tool to keep track of your nutrient intake in an easy and friendly way.”

There are also specific options for vegetarians and vegans.

• If you’re running late to class or a meeting, order your food ahead of time, so you can still make a healthy choice and it’s ready when you arrive, with ISU Dining’s WebFood feature.

and your community Giving back and making a difference in your community is a component of ensuring a sustainable future. Learn more about some important resources and opportunities to give back in your on- and off-campus communities.

The

SHOP

The SHOP, or Students Helping Our Peers, is a student-run food bank offering free food for any ISU students in need of assistance. Located in room 2616 of the Food Science Building, The SHOP is open from 3-6 p.m. every Tuesday and 4-7 p.m. every Wednesday.

Donations are also needed.

Keep Iowa State

BEAUTIFUL

• Keep Iowa State Beautiful helps keep campus clean and litter-free, both inside and outside.

• Participate in the Adopt Campus Program and help clean up litter around campus. You can register online here.

• To get involved, e-mail Jennifer Garret Nissen at garret1@iastate.edu.

Food at

FIRST

The Food at First program provides free meals to anyone, no questions asked, and also runs a perishable food pantry.

They are looking for both volunteers and donors.

If you’re interested in volunteering, click here.

If you’d like to learn more, contact Scott Walker at scott@FoodAtFirst.com.

Volunteer

CENTER of Story County

Are you or your group interested in other ways to give back to the community? Visit the Volunteer Center of Story County’s website to find more opportunities to volunteer in Ames or Story County. Contact them at 515-268-5323.

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Energy Efficiency by the numbers Below are some statistics and helpful tips for improving efficiency in your building, office, lab or home. For more ideas and information, check out these videos.

For more information in improving your home, apartment or residence hall, go to the City of Ames website or contact Steve Wilson, The Energy Guy.

In your building, office and lab...

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percent of heating costs saved by lowering your building’s thermostat by only one degree

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is the the uniform heating temperature setting recommended for all campus buildings

1,519

dollars the Music Building alone has saved in water costs in the month of September

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percent campus energy consumption reduction goal, set by President Geoffroy in 2008 gallons of water a leaky faucet can waste in a year

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dollars Ross Hall has saved in electric costs in the month of September

In your office, lab or home...

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In your home...

watts of energy being demanded by a desktop printer, even when it’s not in use is the number of months you could use your dishwasher each year from the energy saved by turning off your printer when it’s not in use

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percent reduction of your home energy usage by eliminating phantom (standby) energy degrees is the most efficient temperature setting for your refrigerator (5 degrees for your freezer) represents how much longer a CFL (compact fluorescent light bulb) will last than an incandescent is the number to call for electric questions or a free home or apartment energy audit dollar energy bill credit available by signing up for the City of Ames’ Prime Time Power program

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percent energy costs saved by lowering your thermostat by one degree for heating

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percent performance reduction for home insulation, if it is installed improperly

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dollars the average American home spends in energy costs per year because of air leaks

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2011

November events

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Support local art programs and charities by visiting the Festival of Is your building closing? Trees, hosted by the Octagon Center for the Arts. The kickoff event will be held from 1-7 p.m.

If your building is interested in closing or reducing its hours at 427 Douglas Ave. over break, contact Robert Currie at rcurrie@iastate.edu.

Pick up or drop off donations to the student-run, student-used food pantry, known as the SHOP, or Students Helping Their Peers. The pantry is open from 3-6 p.m. every Tuesday and 4-7 p.m. every Wednesday.

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Attend the Iowa Organic Conference at the Scheman Building with keynote speaker Joe Bennett of Cascadian Farms and Small Planet Foods. Register online here.

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Add your event!

Any campus, community, or local event that supports sustainability – environmental, social or economic – can be added to the Live Green! Calendar online.

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Hours vary by location, but dinner is available from 4-8 p.m.

We’d love to hear your comments or questions!

• Merry Rankin: Sustainability Director, mrankin@iastate.edu • Chandra Peterson: Campus and Community Engagement, chandrap@iastate.edu • Corrin Hatala: Marketing and Communications, chatala@iastate.edu

Donate your unused, unwanted or excess food to the Lorax Troop’s Pantry Purge, who will send your donations to baby orangutans in Indonesia.They’re accepting any unopened food or drink, as well as vitamins. Donations are accepted through Nov. 19 at the Sloss House.

Like us on Facebook Follow us on Twitter

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Campus sustainability day “National Campus Sustainability Day 2011 [Oct. 26] was the most successful NCSD event yet at ISU. We had great foot traffic, and students walked away having learned something about all the amazing green initiatives at ISU. We couldn’t ask for any more!”

-Chandra Peterson co-president of The Green Umbrella

“Students who talked to five booths and made a green pledge received a free reusable coffee mug, and these mugs were gone halfway through the event.”

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Look Ahead to december Do you have a magazine stash you’re looking to repurpose? The Browsing Library Used Magazine Sale would love to have them. Any publications can be dropped off at the MU Browsing Library or in Cate Clark’s desk in the East Student Office Space any time before the end of November.

For more details, contact Cate Clark at catec@iastate.edu or 515-294-4425.

1,2,3 now now Check out ArtMart in the Memorial Union’s Campanile Room from Dec. 1-3. Even if you can’t make it, you can donate your paper or heavy-duty plastic bags to Letitia Kenemer in the East Student Office Space in the Memorial Union.

The Skunk River Navy was formed in 1998 as a community service activity for the Freshmen Biology Learning Community by Jim Colbert, associate professor of Ecology, Evolution and Organismal Biology. Through the years many others have been instrumental in keeping the Navy afloat through support and volunteering. Several hundred students, dozens of Ames and Story County citizens and many ISU faculty, staff and graduate students have participated and given countless hours to our biological community. The original idea of “Admiral” Colbert continues to educate our citizens and improve our environment today.

Information from Skunk River Navy website.

Recycle your old phone books through the week of Dec. 12, by placing them in collection boxes located in numerous campus buildings, including Beardshear, Carver, MacKay, the MU and tons more.

For a complete listing of buildings with boxes, or to learn more, contact Sue Mallas at smallas@iastate.edu.

On Dec. 1, in support of the Skunk River Navy, attend the unveiling of their student artwork and the dedication of a sculpture created from trash collected by the Skunk River Navy.

The event will take place from 7-8 p.m. in the Hach Hall lobby.

Support LOCAL holiday decorations The ISU Forestry Club will be selling holiday trees, including balsam fir, scotch pine and white pine, in the Reiman Gardens parking lot. They will be available for purchase Nov. 26-27, Dec. 2-4 and 9-11. Times of availability and more information can be found here.

The ISU Horticulture Club is also joining in on the holiday spirit by selling poinsettias.

Pick one up for your home from 10 a.m.-7 p.m. outside the University Book Store in the Memorial Union. Event details are located here.

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Live Green! monthly

December 2011 Issue 2 - Volume 3

What’s Inside

• Looking Back: What kind of “greenprint” did we make this fall? Flip to page 2.

• Coffee Conundrum: Decode the confusing coffee lingo by turning to page 3.

• Green Holidays: Looking for more ways to “green” in the holidays? Check out page 6 for tips and do-it-yourself decorating ideas.

• Sustainapalooza: Learn more about this campus celebration taking place Feb. 28, 2012, on page 8.

Three Things You’ll Learn 1. Smart power strips can save your household an average of $50 per year!

2. Ames has its own Alternative Gift Market - find out how you can get involved on page 3.

3. Shade coffees promote biodiversity and foster growth in a natural habitat, rather than a deforested one.

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s the Fall 2011 Semester is coming to a close, it has been VERY exciting for the Live Green! team to take time and reflect on all the “greening” that has taken place since classes kicked off in August. This issue of Live Green! Monthly is focused on three main topics: celebrating our accomplishments, keeping your “green-on” during the holidays, and some of the GREAT sustainability opportunities that await you when you return to campus in 2012.

As you will read, because of your interest, dedication and commitment we have saved energy, reduced coal consumption, kept tons of materials out of the landfill and kept campus clean and green this fall. And, we will start the spring semester with a new on-line sustainability course directory and the opportunity to pursue a minor in sustainability.

Well done, Cyclones!!!

check with FP&M to see how your building’s settings can be adjusted for even more impact.

As you finish up your final exams and prepare for break, I would encourage • Divert through donation. If you you to add just a few more items to have food or other items that you your check-off list to ensure all of cannot use and need to get rid of, your good work keeps “greening.” divert them from your trash can and • Check around your office, choose a donation or reuse option. house, room, and apartment for If you need donation outlet ideas, appliances and electronics that contact us livegreen@iastate.edu. can be unplugged while you are Thank you for your ongoing support away. Microwaves, coffee pots, and all that you have done, individually game consoles, computers, cell and collectively, to make Fall 2011 that phone chargers all use energy much “greener.” Happiest of holidays! just by being plugged in. And And have a wonderful break!! why should they use energy if you are not using them? Chandra, Corrin and I are looking forward to working with all of you • Set back your thermostat. next semester! See you in 2012!!

Adjusting by just one degree can make an incredible difference Yours in greenness, to energy consumption as well

as your heating bill. You can do

Merry Rankin, this at home and on campus. If

Director of Sustainability you have not already done so, 1

Fall Semester points & projects We’re nearly halfway through the 20112012 school year already, and plenty of sustainability progress has been made thus far.

Read on to learn about some exciting highlights!

Way to go, Cyclones! Keep up the “greening!”

11.92

tons of football gameday waste recycled during the 2011 Cyclone football season, equaling about 14 percent of total waste produced

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credits required to earn a minor in sustainability at Iowa State University; you can sign up now

888

sustainability-related courses offered by ISU; check out the new online directory now

17.4

tons of recyclable materials collected in residence halls and campus apartments

131

tons of food waste composted instead of landfilled

75

bags of litter students have collected on campus through clean-up events

2,920

tons of coal not consumed by using wind power

7,000

kilowatt-hours BirchWelch-Roberts residence halls have saved during fall 2011 compared to fall 2010

Sigma Pi “Altruistic Campus Experience” Project The men of Iowa State’s Sigma Pi fraternity dedicated approximately 25 volunteer hours Nov. 13 cleaning and maintaining various campus trash receptacles, including the solar trash compacters.

International Student Council Campus Clean-Up The International Student Council held a Campus Clean-Up on Nov. 6, picking up litter across campus.

Around thirty volunteers, consisting of both international and American students and community members, helped make Iowa State’s campus clean and green, in a great way to kick off International Week!

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Understand your coffee

As finals and colder weather draw nearer, the aroma of steamy coffee fills the air. 160 million Americans are regular coffee drinkers. Are you one of them? Do you know you can leave a “greenprint” by the coffee you drink? If so, coffeehabitat.com has some tips when looking for a sustainable coffee choice. Sustainable coffee can be a great holiday gift, so keep these suggestions in mind when shopping! Do coffee certifications have you confused? Read on to understand what each label means.

The Rainforest Alliance label requires a number of ecological standards, and also provides recommended criteria to growers and importers. Look for a proportion of certified beans within the package. Thirty percent is the requirement for certification.

Click here for a list of certified farms.

This label is certified by the Smithsonian Migratory Bird Center.

These coffees must be certified organic and are subject to the most stringent habitat regulations, such as a canopy of at least 12 meters. Find out where to buy bird-friendly certified coffee here.

UTZ Certified Good Inside focuses on both sustainable agricultural practices and efficient, transparent supply chains.

Highlights include the minimization of water usage and the reduction of pollution. Visit this website for a full listing of certified brands and providers.

The USDA certifies organic coffees through the National Organic Program.

This label guarantees that no synthetic pesticides, herbicides or fertilizers are used during production. Additionally, the program emphasizes sustainable agriculture and the prevention of soil erosion. Look for this label on coffees at any grocery store or coffee shop.

Countries producing mostly shade coffees • • • • • • • •

Mexico El Salvador Nicaragua Honduras Bolivia Papua New Guinea Ethiopia India

Some countries are naturally inclined for better coffee-growing practices.

Countries producing shade coffees grow within the natural habitat and use less chemicals. Countries producing sun coffees, on the other hand, usually grow within a deforested habitat, and offer less diversity. Check the label to see where your coffee was produced, and keep those naturally suited coffee production locations in mind for future java hits and java gifts.

This label is available only to goods produced in democratic organizations of small producers, not privatized profiteers. Fairtrade International certifies supporters of local economies.

Many Ames businesses offer fair trade coffee, such as Worldly Goods and ISU Dining. For a full list, click here.

Not sure you’ll remember the difference between all these certifications? Snap a quick picture of this code with your smartphone, and you’ll have an abridged version to take with you!

Countries producing mostly sun coffees • • • •

Costa Rica Brazil Colombia Vietnam

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Sustainable gifting

Does holiday shopping have you stumped this year? Here are some ideas that are sure to please and make a difference!

consignment

This free website gives anyone with a .edu e-mail account the opportunity to use this campus-centered marketplace.

Post items you no longer use, and shop for items you or someone on your holiday list could use. Pick-up is then arranged via e-mail. Prices are very affordable, and this service keeps reusable items from ending up in the dumpster!

Located at 2410 Lincoln Way in Ames, this store offers everything from new and vintage clothing to furniture, books and “ugly” Christmas sweaters!

Random Goods also pays you for bringing in your gently used items. If you’re looking for holiday decorations, Random Goods can help! Visit their Facebook for more information.

local, fair trade

Worldly Goods is a non-profit store that sells goods produced in countries all around the globe. Located at 223 Main St. in Ames, its products are all subject to fair trade practices, meaning workers were not exploited in production, and also help support developing economies.

Many of the items are handcrafted by artisans, and buyers can be assured that both workers and the environment were not harmed in the creation of their purchases.

Similar to Dorm Dumpster, Freecycle is an online marketplace message board serving counties throughout the United States, including Story County. The best part? All items listed on Freecycle are completely free! Users can also list items they are looking for. Registration includes multiple clearances, which guarantees a more secure experience.

energy-saving

Encourage your family and friends to think about energy savings by giving energy-saving gifts! Five compact fluorescent light bulbs can save about $33 per year in electricity costs. Smart power strips save energy by intuitively cutting off power to electronics that are plugged in but not in use. These strips save an average household $50 per year. Not only can you save money on your utility bill, many utility companies, including the City of Ames Electric Services, also offer rebates for many energy efficient items.

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Sustainable gifting Still looking for gift ideas? Consider alternative sources, instead of big-box stores. For example, give the gift of family togetherness or your own time/expertise.

Keep reading to find out some of our favorite charitable causes that double as great gifts!

Give Your Time Share your expertise with someone who needs it!

Give your own time and make helping your gift.

Read on for some ideas, or come up with your own!

• Complete or help with some yard work or a home improvement • Install updates or help with other computer maintenance • Bake cookies or another treat • Babysit kids or pets • Clean out the garage, a storage room, a junk closet or drawer • Make your own gift certificates so your recipients have them when Consider giving a gift in your recipient’s honor that will help a greater cause. Today, there are multiple organizations that offer this service, ranging from causes like world it is most convenient for them! hunger to wildlife protection, to providing school and recreation supplies in the United States and internationally. Many of these organizations will also send a personalized card to your recipient, explaining how the money given in their honor will be used.

• Ames Area Alternative Gift Market: Affiliated with Alternative Gifts Guarantee that your loved International, this organization allows Ames residents to give easily, and ones will get to spend some more locally. The Downtown Market Day this year will be held Dec. 10 from quality time together! Think 10 a.m.-5 p.m. at Wheatsfield Grocery Cooperative in Ames. Orders will also about buying gift certificates be taken at the Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Ames on Dec. 11 and 18. to participate in activities the • World Vision: Similar to the Alternative Gift Market, this organization donates whole family enjoys, such as to the needy around the globe. Givers can choose from many categories, the zoo, the movies, the science including education, animals, where most needed and many more.

• Find your favorite or your recipient’s favorite cause here. center, the water park or bowling!

Charitable Gifts

Togetherness

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“Green” in the holidays

The Low-down on LED Lights

Is your trusty strand of holiday lights beginning to burn out? Consider replacing them with light-emitting diode lights, or LED lights. Using 10 strands of lights for six hours per day, the average home will save $15 from November-January! You can purchase LED lights just about anywhere, and their cost is not much more than the price of regular holiday lights. Most boxes of 60-count colored lights sell for around $12.

LED bulbs also last 10 times longer than even compact fluorescents, and their energy efficiency leaves regular incandescent bulbs in the (snowdust with a 75 percent reduction in energy consumption. LED lights are also less prone to breakage, preventing a trip to the store every year.

Find out how much you and your family could be saving this holiday season with Alliant Energy’s helpful LED Holiday Lights calculator.

Iowa State University “saw the light” in 2003 and replaced the 5,000 incandescent lights on the campus holiday tree to LED lights. This saves the university more than $250 every year.

Make Your Own Holiday Decorations This simple craft requires only one pinecone, two feet of ribbon and hot glue. Glue one foot of ribbon into a loop. Glue the other into place as a pretty bow and connect to a pinecone you can grab outside!

Create your own holiday stockings by reusing old or worn-out gloves. Just remove the fingers, turn the gloves inside out and sew the ends closed. Then, stitch a loop or attach a hanger onto the back for easy hanging!

Photos: Good Housekeeping

For more do-it-yourself crafting ideas, check out DIYNetwork or FamilyFun. Remember that most secondhand stores also sell holiday decorations. In Ames, try visiting Random Goods, Salvation Army, Goodwill or another of your favorite places to find reusable purchases!

Traveling over the holidays? Check out local secondhand stores in your hometown or other travel destination. There are all sorts of fun and useful things to be found for the holidays and beyond.

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Looking for an internship?

Parks Library Marketing and Communications Internships Parks Library is offering three sustainability internships. Each internship requires work with technical communication and marketing as it relates to the library’s sustainability efforts.

• These internships are unpaid opportunities, averaging 5-10 hours per week and allowing for flexible schedules.

• Internships will begin on or before the week of Jan. 9 and end the week of April 23. Start and end dates are flexible.

Research Guide Development Intern (Two Internships): • Design and completion of a sustainability guide highlighting local and regional resources.

• Design and completion of a sustainability guide covering a few sustainability topics in-depth.

Here are some examples.

Resource Video Production Intern (One Internship): • Design and completion of a creative video that highlights specific sustainability resources found at the library and is focused on specifically engaging a student audience.

For more information or to apply for a position, contact Sarah Passonneau, Parks Library Assistant to the Dean, spassonn@iastate.edu or 515-294-2117.

Harvard University Research Program in Ecology Harvard University is offering 30 undergraduate students the opportunity to collaborate with scientists who are conducting ecological research via a summer program. Application deadline: Friday, February 3. For more information, click here.

Campustown Action Association Internship The Campustown Action Assocation (CAA), the business association for Ames’ Campustown district, is seeking an energetic and creative intern for the spring semester.

CAA’s membership base is dedicated to improving and promoting the business, cultural, spiritual, entertainment, housing and physical environment in Campustown.

For a copy of the application and a further description of duties, please e-mail Chandra Peterson, Campustown Action Association Secretary, at chandrapeterson27@gmail.com.

WeCar ISU Car Sharing Program Internship WeCar, Iowa State University’s car sharing program, is offering an on-campus internship opportunity related to sales, marketing and public relations.

• This internship pays $9.00/hour with bonus pay opportunities and is based upon a minimum of 15-20 hours/month.

• Internships will begin on or before the week of Jan. 9 and end the week of April 23. Start and end dates are flexible, and the internship can extend through multiple semesters.

Responsibilities/ Expectations: • Weekly on-campus marketing • Schedule informational meetings and presentations with campus organizations • Participate in and/or organize special promotions events • Network and collaborate with Live Green! and the Director of Sustainability • Maintain a sales and marketing journal • Complete a final intern report For more information or to apply, contact Breanne Bolin at WeCar, Breanne.D.Bolin@ehi.com or 515-251-5215.

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Mark your calendar Tuesday, February 28, 4-6 p.m.

Great Hall/South Ballroom, Memorial Union “This event is going to be very interactive and have topics that will interest a student of any major! I would encourage everyone to check it out! Will YOU be seen on the green carpet on 02.28.12?!”

-Chandra Peterson, The Green Umbrella Co-President

Join in the celebration of the many accomplishments of Iowa State’s Live Green! initiative through interactive displays and presentations about sustainability efforts on campus. The event will include a poster session, “empowering” stations, and the opportunity to walk down the Green Carpet. Speakers will include Merry Rankin, Director of Sustainability, and leaders from the Council on Sustainability. Students Chandra Peterson and Matt Santee, co-presidents of The Green Umbrella, will be your hosts for the evening. Food, pictures, and a unique appreciation gift for all attendees will round out the occasion. Don’t miss out on this exCYting event!

Start Your Planning

This year, consider a vacation for a cause, like those offered by Alternative Breaks or a number of different Ames organizations. You can also check out the Volunteer Guide website to find a full listing of vacations that support a variety of causes. Opportunities are available both abroad and in the United States.

Start planning your make-a-difference break now!

Prepare for Swapping

This year’s third-annual Closets Collide Community Clothing Swap event is scheduled for Feb. 4 in the Howe Hall Atrium. Closets Collide is a student organization that promotes sustainability by organizing clothing swaps and other events on campus and within the Ames community. For more information, e-mail closetscollide@gmail.com or visit their website.

Talk to Us!

Questions, comments or suggestions? We’d love to hear from you!

Merry Rankin, Director of Sustainability, mrankin@iastate.edu – Chandra Peterson, Campus and Community Engagement Intern, chandrapeterson27@gmail.com – Corrin Hatala, Marketing and Communications Intern, chatala@iastate.edu

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Live Green! monthly

February 2012 Issue 2 - Volume 4

What’s Inside

• Valentine’s Day: Don’t know what to get your valentine? Check out some green ideas on pages 2 and 3.

• Inside Greening: Learn more about how we are “Living Green” by building green on pages 4 and 5.

• Sustainapalooza: Don’t miss the opportunity to walk the Live Green! Carpet and celebrate all of Iowa State’s green accomplishments.

Flip to page 6 to find a schedule of events.

Three Things You’ll Learn 1. Fuzz That Wuzz stuffed animals, made from recycled plastic bottles, offer an opportunity to give a little “green” to your valentine.

2. King Pavilion’s wall insulation is made from recycled blue jeans.

3. Iowa State University has a student in the running to be America’s Next EcoStar! Click to vote for Casey Fangmann on page 7.

H

appy 2012 and welcome to the spring semester of the 2011-2012 academic year!!

Recycling Reusable Coffee Mug You’ve Been Caught GREEN Handed!

Reusable Water Bottle

Alternative Transportation

Members of the Green Umbrella are out and about looking for opportunities to catch YOU “greenhanded” and include your picture on the Wall of Cardinal, Gold and Green at Sustainapalooza.

Be prepared!

have collectively put into place over the past three years (and are still building, enhancing and diversifying). Check out the Live This issue offers ideas on adding a Green! in Review publication little “green” to your Valentine’s Day and congratulate yourselves red, and focuses on a part of campus on a job VERY well done!! that is always green, no matter what • 2012 begins a brand new the season. This issue also is dedicated chapter in our Live Green! to celebrating a specific celebration journey under the leadership for… our cardinal, gold and green!! and vision of President Leath.

As we begin 2012, we have plenty to celebrate!

• 2012 marks the 4th year of the Live Green! initiative. (In 2008, through President Geoffroy’s leadership and vision, the Live Green! initiative was started, and our journey toward a sustainable future was officially launched.)

• 2012 kicks off with an impressive sustainability foundation that we

Clothing Swap Event

Waste Minimizing Lunch

Alternative Lighting

we have accomplished, and building enthusiasm, empowerment and engagement for the goals we are still pursuing. Sustainapalooza has been designed for each and every one of you – students, faculty and staff. You all have made our accomplishments possible, and you all keep us moving toward achieving more.

I look forward to you all taking part in Sustainapalooza, seeing And with all this to celebrate, it your accomplishments in pictures seems only fitting that we have an and receiving your well-deserved official celebration!! And we are!! and sustainability-minded thankSustainapalooza will take place on you gift. See you on February 28!!

February 28 from 4-6 p.m. in the Great Hall of the Memorial Union.

Yours in greenness, Envisioned, planned and directed by campus student sustainability organization leaders, Sustainapalooza Merry Rankin, revolves around celebrating all that Director of Sustainability 1

Greening your valentine Still looking for the perfect gift for your valentine? This year, you might consider giving a gift with a sustainable touch: from planting a tree, to sponsoring a wildlife species.

Keep reading to find ways to add a little green to your favorite classic gifts, as well as unique and sustainably minded gifting ideas!

A Gift That Greens (And Grows)

Dedicate a tree (or an acre of trees) to be planted in your valentine’s honor through Trees Instead.

Gift-givers can choose where they’d like the tree to be planted. Options include any state in the U.S., Israel, Africa or Canada. Recipients receive a tree certificate that tells exactly where the tree is planted. The card and certificate can be personalized by the sender. For last-minute shoppers, nextday delivery is available.

Greetings

Pay it Forward

Consider giving a gift in your recipient’s honor that will help a greater cause. Today, there are multiple organizations that offer this service, ranging from causes like world hunger, to wildlife protection, to providing school and recreation supplies in the United States and internationally. Many of these organizations will also send a personalized card to your recipient, explaining how the money given in their honor will be used.

• World Wildlife Federation: Donate to this organization by Feb. 5, and they will send your valentine a symbolic gift. For example, a $50 donation is used to “adopt” a leopard and cheetah, and the thank-you gift includes a stuffed version of each animal and a WWF Valentine’s bag. Choose from more than 100 species.

Another option, from Botanical • The Goods: If you’re looking for a charitable gift that is close to your Paperworks, is embedded with valentine’s heart, consider using The Goods’ website. Gift-givers can flower seeds. Recipients can choose their price range and focus on a specific charitable cause. plant the biodegradable card • Local Opportunities: A donation to a favorite local cause or organization and wait for beautiful blooms! is a thoughtful gift for your valentine and your community.

E-card service provider, Care2, allows users to send free, personalized cards that benefit one of more than 350 non-profits.

Companies like Hallmark and American Greetings also offer reminders and scheduled cards.

2

Greening the classics Interested in putting a little green touch on some classic Valentine’s Day gifts? Learn how to add a little “Green” to three classics – stuffed animals, eco-friendly flowers and cocoa-conscious chocolates.

STUFFEDS This “Fuzz That Wuzz” stuffed elephant, found online, is made entirely from recycled plastic bottles. Other stuffed animal choices are made from irregular socks, bamboo and organic cotton. Priced affordably, they can also be delivered with chocolates and a bow. In addition, Worldly Goods in Ames offers fairly traded stuffeds.

BLOOMS Similar to many other products, flowers purchased locally lighten our carbon footprint and save energy. Local options such as the Ames Farmer’s Market, located on Main Street in Ames, and the Gateway Market, located in Des Moines, offer fresh flowers and produce, grown right here in Central Iowa.

Trader Joe’s in West Des Moines has Veriflora-certified flowers. Veriflora is an agricultural sustainability certification and eco-labeling program recognized as the gold-standard in the floriculture and horticulture industries.

If you purchase your bouquet from Teleflora, 20% of the price goes to the ASPCA, the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals.

SWEETS • Learn more about cocoa sustainability! Mars, the parent company of numerous chocolate brands, such as Dove and M&M’s, is committed to cocoa sustainability in all aspects of its production, from farmers to factories. Mars works to increase productivity and create sustainable livelihoods of cocoa farmers and families. “As part of our commitment as a responsible global company, we are striving to make cocoa a vibrant, environmentally sound industry from farm to factory,” according to its website.

• Consider fair trade or organic! There are a variety of organic and fair trade-certified chocolates, such as Green & Black’s, which are available at grocery stores and some convenience stores.

Divine chocolates are also fair trade-certified. The Divine company is 45%-owned by its cocoa farmers. Divine chocolates can be found at Wheatsfield and Worldly Goods, both in Ames, or ordered online. Wheatsfield also carries Theo, another organic, fair trade brand.

• Other certifications are available! Another option, Raw Chocolate. They are certified organic, kosher, GMO. To learn more and sample some sustainable 11 for a wine, cheese and chocolate sampling and

offered at Wheatsfield, is Righteously vegan, gluten-free, soy-free and nonsweets, check out Wheatsfield on Feb. sale, just in time for Valentine’s Day.

• Support a local chocolatier! Chocolaterie Stam, located on Main Street, offers a wide variety of sweets.

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What Is leed?

LEED, or Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design, is a system that defines, analyzes and certifies green buildings by evaluating “practical and measurable green building design, construction, operations and maintenance solutions,” according to the U.S. Green Building Council’s website. It was developed in 2000 by the USGBC and currently offers four levels of building certification.

Iowa State has a requirement for all new construction and major renovation projects to have a LEED Gold certification. To learn more about what this means and how we’ve achieved this, read on!

A LEED certification verifies that a building was designed and built using strategies that reduce carbon dioxide emissions and improve energy savings, water efficiency, indoor environmental quality, stewardship of resources and sensitivity to their impacts.

LEED-certified buildings are designed to lower operating costs and increase asset value, reduce waste sent to landfills, conserve energy and water, be healthier and safer for occupants, reduce harmful greenhouse gas emissions, and qualify for tax rebates, zoning allowances and other incentives, according to the website.

Buildings are evaluated in five primary categories. Each category is worth an allotted amount of points. Upon completion of the evaluation, all of the categories’ scores are added and subsequently certified according to the sum, out of a possible 110 points.

Indoor Environmental Quality 15 points

Sustainable Sites 26 points

Energy and Atmosphere 35 points

“Extra Credit” Categories To be considered for LEED certification, buildings must meet minimum requirements in each of the above categories.

Beyond that, Iowa State has its own additional requirements that are specifically relevant to Iowa State’s building users and the region’s weather. For more information, contact Kerry Dixon-Fox.

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LEEDing at iowa state Built in 1890, Morrill Hall was updated from 2005-2007.

It was Iowa State’s first LEED project and received a Silver certification upon its reopening. It also demonstrated that ISU could successfully accomplish LEED standards.

Key Features: • Floors: made of bamboo, a rapidly renewable resource • Classrooms and Office Suite: use natural light • Restrooms: recycled plastic partitions, recycled glass in countertops, water use reduced by 20% over code design • Carpet: recycled • Roof Tiles: 100% recycled rubber that looks like slate Morrill Hall

Hach Hall

The Biorenewables Research Laboratory earned a Gold LEED certification and is 35% more efficient than lab minimums.

Key Features: • Chilled Beam Technology: cools air in warm weather • Energy Recovery System: reduces demand to temper air • Windows: reduce heat gain from sun’s rays in summer • In-Ground Rainwater Cistern: collects and filters water for use in flushing toilets and urinals • Green Roof: plants/grasses retain water collected here • Landscaping: rain garden and native prairie plantings Biorenewables Research Lab

King Pavilion

Hach Hall, which houses classrooms, laboratories and instrumentations, was awarded a Gold LEED certification.

Finished in 2009, King Pavilion was the first Platinum LEED certified higher education building in the state of Iowa.

Key Features: • Reclaimed Water System: rainwater from roof is diverted and used for flushing toilets and urinals • Low-Flow Fixtures: coupled with the water system, saves 74% of expected water use of building this size • Occupancy/Proximity Sensors on Fume Hoods: 47.7% more efficient than a similar, minimum-meeting design • Lighting: highly efficient fixtures and motion sensors are coupled with the use of natural light

Key Features: • Lighting: censors respond to natural light and occupancy • Materials: 33% of building materials are recycled; wall insulation made from blue jeans • Green Roof: reduces 80% of rainwater sent to storm sewer; reduces heat gain inside the building in summer • Water Detention Cells: surplus water from soil goes into cells, which hold rainwater and slowly release it • Windows: operable on the upper level 5

FEBRUARY 28, 2012

4-6 p.m. Great Hall, Memorial Union Sustainapalooza – an event focused on celebration, recognition, and reflection related to the many accomplishments that have taken place since President Geoffroy began the Live Green! initiative in 2008, will serve as the annual collective campus sustainability event for 2012.

Schedule of Events 4:00 p.m.

Poster Session and Reception

4:10 p.m.

Welcome from ISU Director of Sustainability Merry Rankin; Opening remarks from President Steven Leath 4:25 p.m.

Announcement of the 2011 Building Energy Efficiency Award Winners 4:25 p.m.

President Leath opens the Live Green! carpet. Walk down the Live Green! carpet, chronicle your Live Green! contributions and commitments on the “Wall of Cardinal, Gold, and Green,” add a leaf to the “Greening Our Legacy Tree” and receive a sustainabilityminded commemorative appreciation gift.

5 – 5:55 p.m.

Empowering Stations: Presenters will offer interactive and empowering tips and techniques related to “Greening Your Closet,” “Lightening Your Wasteprint” and “Killing Your Watts.”

5:55 p.m.

Closing remarks from Kerry Dixon-Fox and Sarah Passonneau, Co-Chairpersons of the Council on Sustainability

As we welcome Dr. Steven Leath to Iowa State University as our 15th President, Sustainapalooza provides the platform for our collective campus team of students, faculty and staff to celebrate the journey we have made so far, and look forward to the journey still in progress.

This year’s event is spearheaded and driven by the vision, creativity and enthusiasm of Chandra Peterson and Matt Santee, co-presidents, and all the members of the student organization, The Green Umbrella. Event sponsorship is provided by the Council on Sustainabilty, the Live Green! Initiative and The Green Umbrella.

Posters are invited and encouraged from all campus activities and projects including research, administration, operations, students and student organizations, community and personal initiatives that support and further sustainability. If you are interested in taking part in the poster session, visit the Live Green! website or contact Merry Rankin.

Ongoing Events 4 – 5:55 p.m.

Poster Session and Reception 4:25 – 5:55 p.m.

Live Green! carpet 5 – 5:55 p.m.

Empowering Stations 6

Green odds and ends Don’t miss out on these great opportunities! From internships to summer programs, there is something for you!

Check out Live Green! in Review and read about the highlights of our Live Green! journey from 2008-2011 under President Geoffroy’s leadership.

Sign up for the new sustainability minor!

The interdisciplinary minor is sponsored by the Colleges of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Design, Engineering and Liberal Arts and Studies.

Check it out here!

FoodCorps is looking for individuals with a passion for healthy food, farms and kids.

Apply to serve (with pay and student loan forbearance) for a year building healthy school food environments in high-obesity, limited-resource communities.

Learn more and apply online!

Interested in getting (more) involved or improving your organization this semester? Stop in to the Leadership and Service Center, located in the East Student Office Space in the M.U. The center is open from noon-3 p.m. on weekdays, 5-7 p.m. on Tuesday and by appointment. The center also offers online chats.

Interested in recycling interaction? Live Green is seeking a paid intern to investigate and develop glass recycling initiatives for the ISU community. The internship must be complete no later than Aug. 15.; E-mail a cover letter, resume and three references to Gina Holtzbauer by 5 p.m. Feb. 15.

Please direct questions to Merry Rankin, 515-294-5052, or Sean Whalen, 515-294-2009.

Apply for the Odebrecht Sustainable Development Award for Students!

The award will recognize innovation in new building techniques, chemical processes and alternative uses of sustainable materials.

The first-place project will be awarded $40,000.

The New Leaders Initiative is seeking 2012 interns!

Interns will be exposed to leading grassroots and national youth-led efforts, and have the opportunity to learn about working in an environmental non-profit.

To apply, send a resume and letter of interest to Anisha Desai.

ISU student Casey Fangmann has been nominated to be America’s Next EcoStar! Support him by voting here.

Apply to attend the 12-day Institute for Emerging Sustainability Leaders in Peru! The program, sponsored by The Amazon Center for Environmental Education and Research, is scheduled for June 24 to July 6.

The institute is open to students, educators and professionals interested in sustainability education, especially as it relates to a global scale. For more information or to apply, contact Dr. Paul Morgan.

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2012events February

Recyclemania 2012

Recyclemania is back!

The competition, actively taking place from Feb. 5-April 6, will track Iowa State’s recycling efforts against other schools around the country. Recyclemania is sponsored by the Department of Residence and the GreenHouse Group. For more information, contact Matt Gaul. Thanks for recycling!

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Trent Prezsler, CEO of a sustainability-minded winery and ISU alum, will speak about Sustainable Farming and the Fine Wine Industry at 6 p.m. in the Campanile Room of the Memorial Union.

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Closets Collide promotes sustainability in fashion by hosting a community-wide clothing swap. Stay tuned to our Facebook/Twitter for location and drop-off updates.

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Learn about creating your own hydroponic system for growing vegetables and other plants in your own backyard using materials easily found at the hardware store and your recycle bin from 6:30-8 p.m. at Reiman Gardens.

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Add your event!

Any campus, community, or local event that supports sustainability – environmental, social or economic – can be added to the Live Green!

Calendar online.

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Michael Hamm, the 2011-12 Helen LeBaron Hilton Chair in Human Sciences, will speak about Food and Farm Policy in the United States: Building the Economy and National Security with Public Health at 8 p.m. in the Great Hall.

We’d love to hear your comments or questions!

• Merry Rankin: Sustainability Director, mrankin@iastate.edu • Chandra Peterson: Campus and Community Engagement, chandrap@iastate.edu • Corrin Hatala: Marketing and Communications, chatala@iastate.edu

Go on a DIY field trip to Salvation Army and Goodwill to sift through cast-offs and find gems that can be reconstructed into something new. Meet at the Workspace on Saturday morning to go hunting for treasures (bring some cash). Bring them back Sunday to create a new masterpiece!

Like us on Facebook Follow us on Twitter 8

Live Green! monthly

March 2012 Issue 2 - Volume 5

What’s Inside • Take a look back at Sustainapalooza, including tons of photos, on pages 4 and 5.

• Every month is Water Month at ISU! Learn about Iowa State’s stormwater management programs on page 3.

• Congratulations to ISU student Casey Fangmann, who is among the top 5 finalists to become America’s Next Eco-Star. Flip to page 7 to find out more.

Three Things You’ll Learn

• March is Water Month!

Learn about the waterprint you make on page 2.

• Twenty-two campus buildings met President Geoffroy’s goal of reducing their energy consumption by 15%. Was your building one of them? Flip to page 6 to find out!

• You can earn merits, which are redeemable at more than 70 local businesses, by volunteering at this year’s VEISHEA Service Day/ Stash the Trash! Find out more on page 7.

Happy March Everyone!!

With March comes many things: warmer temperatures, the look and feel of green starting to sprout all around us and, of course, Spring Break. All of these offer the opportunity to engage in activities and events to enjoy our green surroundings as well as ensuring the footprint we leave is a greener one.

Sometimes, this can be particularly challenging, especially if you’ve been anxiously awaiting that week of downtime to get away. Whether you’re heading out of town for a couple of days or the whole week, or whether you’re traveling near or far or just more frequently around town – it can be a challenge to keep the same “green” in your step. But it can be done! If you do travel during Spring Break, although you may not be able to do all the things you can at home, you can still leave a greener footprint by being mindful of the energy and resources you are demanding.

Here are some things to consider: · Incorporate the same green habits into your travels that you do at home. Actions such as turning off the lights, keeping the Green Umbrella Co-President Matt Santee and President

thermostat at an efficient setting, limiting Leath cut the ribbon to open the Live Green! Carpet at your water use, opting for limited Sustainapalooza.

For event highlights, turn to pages 4 and 5. housekeeping services (i.e. reusing towels) and utilizing local transportation can easily be done no matter how far you are from home. · Do a quick “audit” when you reach your travel destination to determine what greener and more sustainable options are available to you. In many cases you may find that you have even more opportunities to green your footprint that you do at home. Take advantage of trying them out. Gas Buddy, Megabus, and Walk Score are three resources to try specifically related to sustainable transportation. · If you stay in a hotel, consider choosing one that has a made a commitment to sustainability and being green. For a listing of hotels that have taken the challenge, check out the Green Hotels or Environmentally Friendly Hotels websites.

If you do not travel over break, you can take advantage of the opportunity to improve your footprint at home. Lighting, heating (and cooling), water usage, waste production and electrical demand are just a few of the energy-saving measures to consider. And an easy way to get started is to do an energy audit. This is a free service offered by local utility companies.

In Ames, the City of Ames Electric Services Office is a great resource. Electric Services offers two ways to get started: · On-line self-audit · In-person audit by one of their energy staff Just remember, you don’t have to do everything. What is important is that you commit to doing something to ensure a sustainable future for generations that follow in your footsteps.

Enjoy your March adventures, wherever they may take you!!

Yours in greenness,

Merry Rankin ,

Director of Sustainability

1

Water Consumption by the numbers Do you know how much water you use in a day? How about in a year? The answers may surprise you. In observance of Water Month, read on to learn about water consumption on campus and in your own residence.

Want to learn more? Calculate how much water your leaky faucet uses or how much water your household consumes. Or, try these calculators that estimate your “Water Footprint� and overall environmental impacts, and give helpful tips to reduce usage.

104

gallons of water used in a year by one leaky faucet that drips only three times per minute

857, 580

gallons of water used on campus each day, on average

313, 016, 206

gallons of water used on campus in Fiscal Year 2011

410, 000

million gallons of water used in the United States every day, on average

50

gallons of water used when taking a bath, on average

500

gallons of water used when washing your car, on average

At Iowa State, we are diligent in utilizing and protecting our naturally occurring water resources. We have a diversity of programs that focus specifically on managing these resources. One specific program focuses on managing stormwater. Check out the projects map on page 3 or online, to learn more about this specific program area.

1 20 5

gallon of water used when brushing teeth, on average

gallons of water used in one dishwasher cycle, on average gallons of water used when washing dishes by hand, on average

10 3 2.5

gallons of water used in one washing machine cycle, on average

gallons of water used by flushing a toilet, on average

gallons of water used per minute when taking a shower, on average

3 Ways to Stop Water Leaks

In the Department of Residence...

Anywhere else on campus...

1

Contact your CA or RA.

1

Contact your building supervisor.

2

Submit a service request.

2

Submit a service request.

3

Call 515-294-3322.

3

Call 515-294-5100.

2

3

Sustainapalooza reflection

by Chandra Peterson, co-president of The Green Umbrella

Engaging and great food are just two of the ways that students, faculty and staff have been describing Sustainapalooza: Celebrating Our Cardinal, Green and Gold!

The event featured a walk down the green carpet where attendees were able to post things that they already do to be sustainable and pledge to do something new! After they got their picture taken they were able to collect their sustainably minded gifts! Attendees also learned all about green initiatives on campus through an interactive poster session and became empowered through one of three empowering stations!

An exCYting highlight of the evening was President Leath’s welcoming remarks.

After congratulating Iowa State and the Live Green! initiative President Leath noted his excitement to keep our initiative moving forward.

As in any successful event, there are many individuals who poured their heart and soul into making the event amazing.

Apart from the dedicated planning team, the Council on Sustainability, The Green Umbrella and Live Green! would like to extend a big thank you to the following groups and individuals: Nancy Levandowski and the Dining team; Jennifer Meier and the Memorial Union team; Pat

Miller and the Lectures Program team; Les Lawson and the Facilities Planning and Management team; Norm Hill and the Central Stores team; Leesha Zimmerman and the Trademark Licensing team; Carole Custer and the University Marketing team; and Pete Lelonek.

Another big thank-you goes to President Leath for attending the event and delivering a very motivating speech!

The event couldn’t have been a success without the opportunity to gain knowledge through empowering stations

by Closets Collide (Greening Your Closet), Steve Wilson with the City of Ames (Killing Your Watts), and Shelly Codner with the Iowa DNR’s Waste Exchange Program (Lightening Your Wasteprint); not to mention the countless volunteers who helped market the event by catching people green-handed on campus, the students who designed and created the Green Carpet, the individuals who volunteered at the event and all the students, faculty and staff that attended this celebration!

Team Palooza is so excited to have had the opportunity to work with all the wonderful and dedicated individuals to make this event happen. We are already looking forward to next year’s event!

The Live Green! Carpet, made from reused ISU Athletics AstroTurf, featured the opportunity for attendees to chronicle their greenness, make a pledge for the future and be photographed by the Palooza paparazzi.

4

Palooza in pictures

To see more photos from Sustainapalooza, please visit the Live Green! Facebook page.

Posing on the Green Carpet

Collaborating with colleagues

Empowering energy efficiency

Networking with the President

Signing the Wall of Cardinal, Gold and Green

Empowering waste reduction

Posing on the Green Carpet

Adding a pledge to the Greening Our Legacy Tree

Learning at the Poster Session

5

building

Energy Efficiency awards

When President Geoffroy created the Live Green! initiative in 2008, he set a campus-wide goal to reduce energy consumption by 15 percent. Beginning in 2009, awards have been given to buildings achieving energy efficiency excellence. The 2011 Building Efficiency Award winners were announced and recognition was given to buildings achieving collective energy efficiency excellence from 2008-2011 at this year’s Sustainapalooza event.

2011 and 2008-2011Winners

Far left: Aaron Brand, Agronomy Greenhouse, Building Award Winner for energy efficiency over Winter Break, 2011

Second from right: Dr. Gary Mirka, Marston Hall, Building Award Winner for overall energy efficiency, 2008-2011

Second from left: Darwin Campbell, Crop Genomic Informatics Laboratory, Building Award Winner for overall energy efficiency, 2011

Far right: Karen Bovenmeyer, Morrill Hall, Building Award Winner for energy efficiency over Winter Break, 2008-2011.

2010:

Past Years’ Winners

Winter Break: Morrill Hall Overall: Physics Hall

2009:

Winter Break: Parks Library Overall: Kildee Hall

Buildings achieving President Geoffroy’s goal of 15% (or higher) energy savings 2008-2011

• Birch Hall • East Hall • Extension Information Technology • Farm House • Frederiksen Court Building 71

• Frederiksen Court Community Center • Helser Hall • Hixson-Lied Student Success Center • The Knoll • Lab of Mechanics

• • • • • • •

Lagomarcino Hall Lyon Hall MacKay Hall Marston Hall Martin Hall Morrill Hall Scheman Building

• • • • •

Spedding Hall Stephens Auditorium Student Health Center Transportation Services UDA Community Center

Number of buildings achieving 5-15% energy savings

Number of buildings achieving 5-15% energy savings

39

21

2008-2011

2008-2011

Congratulations to all the award winners and all the buildings achieving energy efficiency excellence!

6

Green odds & ends Show your green, Cyclones!

Congratulations to Iowa State’s own Casey Fangmann. Fangmann was recently selected as a Top 5 Finalist for America’s Next Eco-Star.

The ISU Alumni Association is offering discounts throughout the month of March on all merchandise that comes in the color green. You can order online, within the Special Offers section.

The winner will be announced March 16. Good luck, Casey!

Don’t forget about Recyclemania! This year’s event is now in full swing. The annual recycling competition, which began February 5, will end on April 6.

03/31/12 8:30 p.m.

Help support Iowa State University’s recycling efforts!

VEISHEA Service Day/Stash the Trash, Saturday, March 24, is a volunteer effort that brings students and community members together to help clean up the Ames community and provide support to local agencies. Volunteers have a variety of locations to choose from. Trash bags and gloves are available on the day of the event when you check in at the Reiman Gardens parking lot. A free lunch is provided and Reiman Gardens offers free admission to volunteers. Volunteers will also earn “merits,” which grant them access to exclusive deals from more than 70 locally-owned businesses. Pre-registration is requested.

77

2012

March events

28

24

Symphony of the Soil is a multi-film project that explores the world of soil, including how it is formed, its life cycle, human uses and misuses in agriculture, and soil’s role in addressing global environmental problems.

Details: 6 p.m., Room 2245, Coover Hall

Participate in VEISHEA Service Day/Stash the Trash and give back to the community! Join ISU students, faculty and staff, along with the people of Ames, to work together with area volunteer organizations on a variety of service projects.

Details: 8:30 a.m.-4 p.m., Reiman Gardens

19 Attend a Green

Umbrella meeting!

Meetings are open to any student interested in sustainability on campus. Learn about sustainability initiatives, plan events and network with other groups and individuals.

Details: 8 p.m., Room 3558, Memorial Union

26

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Anne Clifford, of the Department of Philosophy and Religious Studies at Iowa State, will discuss the work of environmentalist, women’s rights activist and 2004 Nobel Peace Prize recipient Wangari Maathai.

Details: 7 p.m., Sun Room, Memorial Union

Add your event!

Any campus, community, or local event that supports sustainability – environmental, social or economic – can be added to the Live Green! Calendar.

31/1

Head to the Natural Living Expo at Veterans Memorial Auditorium in Des Moines. The expo showcases natural, healthy and green living We’d love to hear your vendors, products and speakers. comments or questions!

Volunteers are needed!

• Merry Rankin: Details: 10 a.m.-5 p.m., on both Sustainability Director, March 31 and April 1 mrankin@iastate.edu • Chandra Peterson: Campus and Community Engagement Intern, Like us on Facebook chandrap@iastate.edu • Corrin Hatala: Marketing and Communications Intern, Follow us on Twitter chatala@iastate.edu

8

Live Green! monthly

April 2012 Issue 2 - Volume 6

What’s Inside

Happy Earth Month!!

It is during this time of the year when “green” is sprouting all around us and warmer weather is settling in, that we become even more acutely aware of our many connections to and interactions with our natural world.

• Take a look back at Stash the Trash and VEISHEA Service Day on page 8.

• Read about the impact of daily traveling on page 2, and then flip to page 3 for some ways to “green” your ride.

• Check out some of the “green” happenings planned for this year’s VEISHEA! New this year is the Live Green! Village – find out more on page 6.

Three Things You’ll Learn • April is Earth Month! Learn about the history of Earth Day, Earth Week and Earth Month on page 4, and find a plethora of events and activities on page 5.

• Casey Fangmann was recently awarded a Udall Scholarship. The national scholarship recognizes students who have demonstrated a commitment to careers related to the environment, tribal public policy or Native American healthcare. Read more about it on page 6.

• More than 80 people participated in this year’s Earth Hour event at Iowa State. See what they did and what date to save for next year on page 7.

Just think about the activities of a typical day.

What green requests are we making (both on and off-campus)? How often do we make them?

If we take just one day and make note of every green request we make, our dependence on the Earth is quite humbling. Transportation, cleaning, nutrition, hydration, waste management, nutrition, communication, illumination, shelter, office work, homework, lab work and respiration only begin to scratch the surface of our daily “to-do” list for the planet around us.

As we make our way through Earth Month, I encourage each of you to take just one day and keep an inventory of your green requests. Not only will this add to our collective awareness of how much we demand from our natural world on a daily basis, we will also likely find a number of opportunities to reduce our green demand and increase our green (financial and nonfinancial) supply. If you are interested in specific opportunities to reduce or eliminate your daily requests, here are some resources to get you started:

• Live Green Tips – ideas to lighten your request load covering topics from midnight sun to packaging.

• 10 Ways to Start Living Green – ten easy, yet impactful ways to increase your greenprint at no or a very low cost.

• City of Ames EcoSmart Program – resources and contacts in all areas of green requests including energy, water, trash and transportation.

And since it is Earth Month, make sure to find time to celebrate, too! We have such an amazing place we have the privilege of calling home. Set aside time to enjoy this month that is specifically dedicated to the green that surrounds us – explore a new bike trail, do your homework under a tree, walk around campus on your lunch break, check out a new park, go on a wildflower or birding hike in the woods, plant flowers, gardens, or trees, attend an Earth Month campus or community event, visit the Live Green Village at VEISHEA… the possibilities are limitless.

If you need more ideas – this month’s newsletter is full of them!! Visit the Live Green website too, we’ll be updating the Earth Month Calendar of Events (page 5) on an ongoing basis.

Have a GREAT Earth Month!

Yours in greenness,

Merry Rankin

Director of Sustainability

1

Transportation by the numbers Commuting and running errands are two of life’s more mundane, yet required, tasks.

Luckily, there are more than a few options for getting where you need to go and leaving a greener trail behind you. Read on to learn about the benefits of more sustainable transportation, and turn the page to learn more about different modes of transportation to green your routine.

Individual transportation...

4.9

gallons of fuel saved by bicycling to and from work/school for 5 days (5mile trip, each way)

96.8

pounds of CO2 emissions saved by bicycling the above trips

6.4

pounds of other pollutants saved by bicycling the above trips

8.7 170.3 11.3

gallons of fuel saved by walking to and from work/school for a month (2-mile trip) pounds of CO2 emissions saved by walking the above trips pounds of other pollutants saved by walking the above trips

Transportation in America...

91 1.1 40

percent of Americans using their own personal vehicle for commuting and daily errands billion daily trips taken in the United States, averaging around 4 miles each

daily miles are driven by an average American

55

minutes spent driving daily by the average American

2

percent of Americans using public transportation for commuting and daily errands

204

million personal vehicles registered in the United States

Don’t forget about public transportation! By taking CyRide, you (and other riders) collectively save the fuel/emissions of driving your car!

12

Cybrid buses, using a combination of a biodiesel engine and an electric motor, currently in operation

23,000

gallons of fuel saved annually through use of CyBrid buses

464, 102

pounds of CO2 saved annually by Cybrid buses

50

percent reduction in noise pollution by Cybrid buses

2-10 0

percent of biodiesel used in CyRide’s fleet cost for students (with a current ISU ID) to take CyRide

2

Green Your ride

Vanpool/RideShare

WeCar

Calculate Your Savings

• Transportation Services’ Vanpool: Look for a ride to or from campus, or offer one yourself!

• GSB’s RideShare: If you’re planning a roadtrip or a long trip home, you can look for a ride or offer one!

• WeCar is a membership-based car sharing program that lowers the cost and reduces the hassles of traditional transportation.

• The WeCar vehicle fleet currently includes high fuel efficiency makes and models and will soon add hybrids as the fleet increases.

• Check out this helpful tool that calculates your fuel and emissions savings when you walk or bike instead of drive.

Take advantage of Ames’ many biking and walking paths! Map the shortest - or most scenic - route to class or work!

And while you’re outside, consider checking out any of Ames’ 36 parks.

3

Earth Day 2012 Story and design by: Emily Harmon, Senior in Journalism and Mass Communication The day we devote to celebrating our planet is quickly approaching!

The energy is beginning to pulse for the tons of events throughout the week of April 15-22. Earth Day is April 22, and will be the 42nd time groups at ISU and around the world have gathered for festivities, discussions, and demonstrations to appreciate and protect the Earth.

The first Earth Day occurred on April 22, 1970. Activism for many causes was vibrant. Rachel Carson’s book “Silent Spring” brought enlightenment. Consciousness and enlightenment came together for the birth of a day dedicated to environmental awareness.

U.S. Senator Gaylord Nelson and Denis Hayes officially conceived the idea for a day solely dedicated to celebrating the planet and increasing awareness of our impact on its sustainability.

The day achieved bipartisan support and brought together those from a multitude of backgrounds.

Earth Day activities also stirred the thoughts for the creation of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and greater commitment to environmental sustainability.

Earth Day achieved international status in 1990, as 141 countries made official pledges to protect our planet. In 2009 the General Assembly of the United Nations declared April 22 “International Mother Earth Day.” Earth Day continues to growinspiring new activists and ideas for expanding, increasing and diversifying sustainability efforts.

In many communities, including Ames, there are now an entire month’s worth of events dedicated to environmental protection.

The Earth Day Network (EDN) acts as an international clearinghouse for Earth Day resources and engagement opportunities and events. EDN works with 22,000 partners in 192 countries, speaking to the scope of environmental protection dedication.

EDN estimates that more than one billion people celebrate Earth Day each year, which qualifies April 22 as the largest civic observation on the planet.

Take some time to celebrate Earth Day on Sunday, April 22, and consider a new way you can commit to leaving a healthier planet for our future generations.

Events

Here are some of the unique Earth Month events taking place at ISU and in the Ames community – check out more on the next page or find your own way to celebrate!

Spring Book Sale

Commit to reading and reuse! The Ames Public Library is having a reuse sale: books, movies, music, toys, etc.

Friday, April 13 5:30-8:30 p.m.

(Admission: $2) Saturday, April 14 (free) 9:00 a.m.-6:00 p.m.

Sunday, April 15 (free) 1:00-5:00 p.m.

Find out more online.

Plant Your Very Own Tree!

Increase your green space and reduce your carbon footprint! The City of Ames Electric Services and Ames Trees Forever are holding a tree planting program. Participants receive a tree voucher and mulch.

Saturday, April 28 Registration at 9:30 a.m.

Lowe’s (120 Airport Road) and Country Landscapes For more information, contact Dianne Brotherson, Ames Trees Forever, (515)292-8613.

Decrease Your Footprint

We use a lot of energy: the fridge, the microwave, the coffee pot for that early morning kick and the dozens of other items that are leaving a giant carbon footprint.

Wheatsfield Co-op is offering a class called “Reducing Your Home Energy Use: Top Ten Tips” from 7-8 p.m. in the deli area. RSVP is requested. Find out more online.

4

Earth Month events 9

10

11

April

12

13 9 a.m.

Feed the Need Feed the Need Feed the Need Feed the Need M.U. Green roof Food Drive at Food Drive at Food Drive at Food Drive at installation locations all 5:30-8:30 p.m. locations all locations all locations all over campus. over campus. over campus. over campus. Used book 3 p.m. sale at the Ames 10th Public Library.

6 p.m.

Anniversary Celebrating and Celebration: De-mystifying ISU Graduate Iowa’s Bats in Program in Des Moines.

Sustainable 8 p.m.

Agriculture in Nearly Naked the M.U. Mile.

16 17 18 19 20 8 a.m.-8 p.m. 10-11:30 a.m. 8 a.m.-8 p.m. 7 a.m.-noon 8 a.m.-4 p.m.

Purchase used Digital Used magazine Free electronics Used magazine magazines, sale at the recycling Textbooks sale at the or contribute M.U. Browsing at the DOT lecture.

M.U. Browsing your own at for federal/ 8 a.m.-8 p.m. Library.

Library. the Browsing state/local Used magazine noon-1 p.m.

Library in “Dialogs on employees. sale at the the Memorial M.U. Browsing Sustainability More info.

Union, to be - The Energy 8 a.m.-8 p.m.

Library. reused instead 7 p.m.

Footprint of Used magazine of discarded. sale at the “Let’s Prepare our Campus M.U. Browsing for Earth Day” Research” in the M.U. Room Library. in the M.U. 3515.

Sun Room.

14 9 a.m.

SCAVMA Scamper 5/10K. 9 a.m.-6 p.m.

Used book sale at the Ames Public Library.

Opening weekend of “Nature Connects” LEGO®s sculptures at Reiman Gardens.

21 VEISHEA 9 a.m.-4 p.m.

ArtMart in the M.U. Campanile Room.

GreenHouse Group’s Recycling Challenge throughout campus.

Live Green!

Village on Central Campus.

Connects” LEGO®s sculptures at Reiman Gardens, continues to 10/28/2012.

22 VEISHEA Clean-up.

23 4-7 p.m.

Start your own vegetable seedlings! Bring transplant containers to the Wheatsfield parking lot.

April 23-May 9 As you move out, donate unwanted items to SAVE! Details on page 7.

28 9:30 a.m.

Attend a brief program to receive a $50 tree voucher and bag of mulch at Lowe’s or Country Landscapes.

Applications available at the above locations or the Ames Public Library.

29 April 29 May 6 Iowa Soil and Water Conservation Week activities.

24 25 26 6 p.m.

6:30-7:30 p.m. 2-3 p.m.

“Gasland” film Bring your ISU Library screening in Preservation bike and Carver 101.

Clinic. learn about 7-8 p.m. beginner bike Top Ten Tips repair at the for Reducing Wheatsfield Your Home parking lot.

Energy Use at 11 a.m.-1 p.m.

Wheatsfield.

ISU Library 2-4 p.m.

Preservation ISU Library Clinic.

Preservation Clinic.

27 8-10 a.m.

ISU Library Preservation Clinic.

15 1-5 p.m.

Used book sale at the Ames Public Library-half price.

9 a.m.-4:30 p.m.

9 a.m.-4:30 p.m. “Nature

The Earth Month events calendar is also posted on the Live Green! website and will be updated throughout the month with new events and opportunities.

5

Green odds & ends Explore

this new resource to learn about local and regional food systems, supported by the USDA. The compass and map tools allow for interactive use, and the first case study was done right here in Iowa!

Congratulations

to Casey Fangmann!

Fangmann, a fourth-year student in industrial engineering was recently awarded a Udall Scholarship. This highly competitive, national award was established in 1992 honoring brothers Stewart, former Secretary of the Interior, and Morris Udall, former Arizona Congressman, whose combined work dominated environmental reform for three decades. Each year, 80 scholarships of up to $5000 are awarded to sophomore- and junior-level college students committed to careers related to the environment, tribal public policy or Native American healthcare.

Way to go, Casey!

Look for members of the GreenHouse Group on the Central Campus lawn.

Be on the lookout for “green”

highlights of this year’s VEISHEA! In addition to signage explaining some sustainable aspects of the celebration, there will be a campus-wide recycling effort by the GreenHouse Group. New this year, additional bins can be adopted by your organization.

(You even get to keep the proceeds!) Contact Chandra Peterson, if interested. Also new to VEISHEA, Live Green! will host its own tent during VEISHEA Village, complete with interactive and informative games and prizes. Make sure you stop by the Live Green! VEISHEA Village!

6

Green odds & ends Move-out time

is getting closer by the day! Don’t know what to do with your unwanted stuff? Donate it to the SAVE program! SAVE collects unwanted items and donates them to local charitable organizations such as Goodwill and the Salvation Army. You can donate clothes, small appliances, furniture and nonperishable food items from April 23-May 9. Look for collection bins in residence halls and student apartment offices, or ask your CA.

Internships Available

Women interested in hands-on experience with farm work can apply for internships via the Women,Food and Agriculture Network. The Leopold Center is among the supporters of this program.

More information here.

Local Foods Report

A new report summarizes interviews with leaders of 15 local food groups across Iowa that was conducted in Summer 2011 by Leopold Center graduate intern Joanna Hamilton.

Read it here.

Register today

for the Current Issues in Nutrition Program! This event will focus on regional food system work in nutritional education and outreach. The program includes online presentations and an interactive Q&A session.

On March 31, from 8:30-9:30 p.m., hundreds of millions of people all around the world took part in Earth Hour 2012, including more than 80 people here at Iowa State University.

In recognition of Earth Hour, Iowa Staters were encouraged to turn off and unplug in their homes and join group activities including laser tag and glow-in-the-dark ultimate Frisbee on Central Campus, and t-shirt making in the Sloss House, shown in the photo to the left.

Iowa State also showed iconic commitment by turning off all the lights in and outside of Catt Hall. If you missed out on this year’s Earth Hour, stay tuned for next year’s event, scheduled for March 30, 2013!

7

Community clean-up

This year’s Stash the Trash/VEISHEA Service Day saw more than 2,000 volunteers pitch in to beautify Ames and its surrounding communities. Check out the photos below!

President Leath replaces mulch at University Community Childcare.

Volunteers drop off trash from campus and community litter pick-up efforts to a trailer provided by the City of Ames Resource Recovery Center.

Volunteers from St. Olaf College clean up Campustown walkways.

Student volunteers pitch in at University Community Childcare.

Volunteers remove garbage from Campustown parking lots.

Volunteers “stash” on Lincoln Way near Hilton Coliseum.

Volunteers take a well-deserved lunch break, prepared and served by the Rotaract Club and the Ames Morning Rotary.

88

Live Green! monthly

May 2012 Issue 2 - Volume 7

What’s Inside

What a great, GREEN year we have had ISU! Congratulations!!

• Take a look back at the 2011-2012 school year, and celebrate our green accomplishments on pages 2 and 3.

• Meet the Live Green! summer interns on page 9.

• View photos and catch up on the green happenings from VEISHEA on pages 4 and 5.

Three Things You’ll Learn

• Iowa State University was recently included in the Princeton Review’s Guide to Green Colleges, in partnership with the U.S. Green Building Council, for the secondstraight year.

• The Ames Main Street Farmers’ Market opens Saturday, May 5! Read about all the markets on page 6.

• There are tons of awesome events planned for this summer! Check them out on pages 7, 8 and 10.

New Resource

Check out this new resource, made available by FP&M, BuildingGreen Suite, an authoritative source on environmentally responsible building design and construction.

Any campus computer can access the green concept summaries and indepth articles, case studies, product evaluations and more! For more information, contact Dave Peterson.

This last issue of Live Green!

Monthly is committed to our impressive 20112012 journey of Living the Cardinal Gold and Green.

It’s been a year filled with new initiatives, expanding and diversifying initiatives already in place and putting pieces in place to kick-off another exciting Live Green!

Journey for the 2012-2013 academic year.

This year our journey has forged new green pathways on rooftops, in buildings, at VEISHEA, in print and publications and down a recycled Astroturf green carpet.

At the same time we have continued to build and strengthen our foundation of sustainability through our initiatives in green cleaning, composting, recycling, reducing disposables, energy conservation, renewable energy, service learning, volunteerism, research and curriculum. Most importantly, we have kept moving forward!

Certainly, our journey is far from over… but it is SO exciting to see how much “green” a year has added to campus and really amazing to consider what we have collectively accomplished since President Geoffroy brought us all together under the Live Green!

Initiative umbrella in 2008!!

If you have not done so recently, I encourage you to take a look around campus and at your own college, department, office, residence hall and/or organization. Consider what you have accomplished over the past four years and the part you have taken in moving Iowa State University that much further in our journey toward a sustainable future. I know you’ll be impressed and proud. And you should be. It is not an easy nor a quick journey we have undertaken. But it is one well worth committing to.

It has been an honor to make the green trek with you for another year!! Keep sustaining over the summer and share a little cardinal, gold and green wherever you venture and in whatever you undertake.

See you in the Fall!

Yours in greenness,

Merry Rankin

Director of Sustainability

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2011-2012 in review

As the school year winds to an end, we’d like to relive some of the highlights from this year’s green journey. Looking for a bigger green picture of ISU? Head to the Live Green! website for this year’s Board of Regents Sustainability Report and check out “Live Green! In Review,” which documents our journey from 2008.

New to campus this year was WeCar, a car-sharing program. The initiative offers two cars, located on campus, available for rent by the hour or day, to students, faculty or staff who may not otherwise have access to a car.

On October 26, Iowa State recognized National Campus Sustainability Day with an event outside of Parks Library. Organizations and local businesses interacted with students, faculty and staff about specific sustainability initiatives.

Sustainapalooza, held February 28, focused on celebration, recognition and reflection related to the many accomplishments that have taken place since President Geoffroy began the Live Green! initiative in 2008.

ISU prevented 44 metric tons of CO2 equivalent from entering the atmosphere during this year’s Recyclemania! Competing in the benchmarking division, Iowa State recycled 4.07 pounds per capita.

A renovated State Gym Recreational Facility opened at the beginning of Spring semester, and was designed with the goal of achieving a LEED-Gold certification. Among its green features are recycled materials, a green roof and much more!

Unveiled this year, the Sustainability Course Directory allows students to view and choose classes based on a focus or relation to sustainability! ISU also introduced an interdisciplinary Sustainability Minor.

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2011-2012 in review The Biorenewables Research Laboratory and Hach Hall received LEED-Gold Certification, joining Morrill Hall (silver) and King Pavilion (platinum) and bringing Iowa State’s total to four LEED buildings, to date.

The weather was more than cooperative for this year’s VEISHEA Service Day/Stash the Trash. A record 2,000 volunteers performed various service projects in Story County. Through partnership with a nonprofit organization, volunteers were also awarded Hometown Hero “merits” to use at local businesses.

The Iowa State Daily established a weekly “Cystainability” section, devoted to all news sustainable.

This year marked the first Live Green! Village, as a part of the larger VEISHEA Village. Live Green! and other sustainably minded organizations showcased their programs and accomplishments and educated VEISHEA-goers. VEISHEA implemented green practices, such as utilizing less silverware for meals and encouraging recycling with specially placed bins.

The Memorial Union installed a green roof in April, joining green roofs at Horticulture Hall, State Gym, King Pavilion and the Bissell Road CyRide bus shelter. See more photos on page 5.

Casey Fangmann was awarded a Udall scholarship, a national award that recognizes students committed to the environment, tribal public policy or Native American healthcare. Fangmann was also a finalist in the America’s Next Eco-Star competition.

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VEISHEA visuals

Living Green at VEISHEA Story by: Chandra Peterson, Live Green! Campus and Community Engagement Intern

2012 marked the monumental occasion of the first ever Live Green! Village at VEISHEA Village.

Visitors were encouraged to visit as many of the tables in the tent as possible to win awesome prizes and each table was occupied with a sustainability based group or initiative. And with Earth Day

being the Sunday of VEISHEA, one of the activities included making a pledge to do something differently in their life to be more sustainable.

A big thank you to all the Green Umbrella members who made the event a huge success and to VEISHEA for working with us to have recycling available!

Lastly, it was great to be a part of the VEISHEA clean-up efforts and we were so excited to extend the clean-up efforts into Campustown this year!

Check out the photos on this page and on the next page of the Live Green! Village, VEISHEA parade and Earth Day clean-up.

Photo by: Emily Harmon, Live Green! Guest Photographer Junior in Journalism and Mass Communication 4

VEISHEA visuals Photos by: Emily Harmon, Live Green! Guest Photographer, Junior in Journalism and Mass Communication

Design by Teryn Hammes

The GreenHouse Group collected and counted recyclables on Central Campus.

The group estimated the total at 1,000 cans and bottles at the end of the day.

BioBus members explain their activities to visitors. The BioBus group collects used vegetable oil from UDCC to fuel a CyRide bus.

Caleb Swank, freshman in event management, explains the Live Green!

Village Challenge Activity to a visitor.

Live Green! and VEISHEA co-chairpersons BJ Brugman and Kayla Nielsen teamed up to make sure VEISHEA left a greener footprint for the 2012 event.

Photo courtesy of Merry Rankin

The Live Green! Village was filled with organizations educating VEISHEA-goers about their sustainable practices.

Photo courtesy of ISU Marketing

Captain Planet and the Planeteers, joined by GreenHouse Group members, get excited for the VEISHEA parade to begin.

Kate Klavon, sophomore in biological systems engineering, and Logan Van Rheenen, sophomore in biological systems engineering, help clean up Central Campus.

VEISHEA committee members pick up trash near Morrill Hall on Central Campus.

The Live Green! electric car weaves its way through the VEISHEA parade.

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Ames Gears Up for Farmers’ Markets Story by: Ashlee Clark, Live Green! Guest Columnist, Junior in Journalism and Mass Communication The Ames Main Street Farmers’ Market has announced the dates for the upcoming season. Starting on May 5 and continuing through October 27, the farmers’ market will take place each Saturday from 8 a.m. to noon.

Local vendors and producers are hard at work preparing seasonal fresh fruit, vegetables, meats, cheeses, arts, crafts, fresh flowers and much more for Main Street in May. The farmers’ market will also include live local entertainment and children’s activities.

Mike Duffy, director of the Beginning Farm Center and economics professor at Iowa State

North Grand Farmers’ Market • Open Saturdays 8 a.m.-1 p.m., Wednesdays 3-6 p.m., May- Oct. • More than 20 vendors • Offers an indoor venue Feb.- Apr. “The more farmers we have, the • Produce sold here is grown better off,” Duffy says. He clarifies by the vendor or a member of by saying that farmers raise families, his/her immediate family and and the more families that are produced in Story County or in present, the more vibrant the one of the adjoining counties community.

Ames Farmers’ Market • Open Thursdays, Fridays The farmers’ market is an outlet 2-7 p.m. until summer, then for community members to come Saturdays 8 a.m.-1 p.m., together and interact, all together Thursdays from 2-7 p.m. contributing to a sustainable • Year-round indoor market at community.

526 Main Street • Offers seasonal fruits and Buying locally is a great way to vegetables, dairy, meat, jams, know where your money goes and jellies, wines, baking and crafts where your produce comes from. believes that the social aspect is one of the most important functions of the farmers’ markets.

Photos courtesy of Ames Main Street Farmers’ Market

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Green odds & ends As part of an international day of climate action initiated by 350. org, join in and “Connect the Dots” between climate change, its causes, and the extreme weather events we are experiencing as a result. ISU students, faculty, staff, and members of the Ames community will gather outside of the ISU Power Plant to encourage stronger climate change policies by national and international leaders.

Congratulations, Cyclones! Iowa State University was recently included in the Princeton Review’s Guide to Green Colleges. The guide, which is published in partnership with the U.S. Green Building Council, listed Iowa State for the secondstraight year.

Join the region’s top corporate, public and academic leaders at the 2012 Burns & McDonnell Sustainability Summit on June 8 in Kansas City to learn about and discuss how sustainability leads to growth and success.

The eight speakers for the free, half-day event include scholars and leaders from Yale University, industry and government. Live Green! is offering vanpooling to the event; contact Merry Rankin for more information.

Want to make some green?

WeCar wants you! The WeCar internship, beginning June 1, plays an integral role in the success of the WeCar program on Iowa State’s campus. The goal of the part-time internship is to increase WeCar’s membership base across campus as well as drive increased usage from existing members. The intern is paid, with additional performance incentives. Find out more, and apply online.

The Campustown Action Association is looking for a director! Through support and funding from the City of Ames, this position is a part of the Urban Neighborhood District. The director’s job deals with all facets of the enhancement and success of Campustown. Contact Chandra Peterson for information.

Do you want to farm?

Enroll in a 14-week class at Iowa Western Community College to learn the basics of starting a farm. Classes start May 30, and are supported by the Leopold Center.

Check out a brochure!

More summer stuff

Flip to the next page for some more summer ideas, and check out these hotlinks for other fun events that offer awareness about and engagement in sustainability: Iowa Natural Heritage Foundation, Reiman Gardens, and the always-popular Iowa State Fair.

New food systems report

A new report, “Creating Change in the Food System: The Role of Regional Food Networks in Iowa,” from Michigan State University features a case study of the Regional Food Systems Working Group in Iowa and how networks can build resilient local and regional food systems. The report was written by Rich Pirog, who formerly coordinated the Regional Food Systems Working Group in Iowa, where he was associate director at the Leopold Center and its Marketing and Food Systems Initiative leader.

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mark your

Summer calendar

Looking for something to do this summer? Check out these fun activities for all ages, and be on the lookout for more ideas on the Live Green! Calendar. If your college, department or campus or community organization will be offering opportunities or events during the summer that have a sustainability connection, please add them to our calendar.

Story County Conservation Nature Camps These hands-on youth experiences teach kids about their natural surroundings, and offer an opportunity to do some exploring of their own! Most of these day camps last for a few days, and are offered for those starting kindergarten to those who have completed 2nd grade. SCC also offers overnight wilderness trips, for those who have completed 4th grade-12th grade. Go online for more information or to fill out a registration form.

Story County Conservation Canoe Clinic & Canoe Trip:

• Clinic, June 20: Join SCC staff on the beach for an evening of canoe instruction. Participants will learn canoe safety, steering and paddling techniques, and then test their canoeing skills on the lake. This program is recommended for participants in the Adult/Child Canoe Trip who have never canoed.

Registration with payment is required by June 18.

• Trip, July 28: Take part in an adult/child canoe trip down a central Iowa river. Meet at the conservation center and have a brief orientation before traveling to the launching site. SCC will provide canoes, paddles, shuttle, life jackets, and coolers for lunches.

Registration with payment is required by July 25.

Renewable Energy Expo,

June 8-10, Cedar Rapids: Celebrate 20 years of renewable energy education at this family-friendly, free event: • Tour the incredible new Wind and Solar training facilities at Kirkwood.

• Visit with Iowa exhibitors showcasing some of the best products renewable energy has to offer.

• Learn from very knowledgeable Iowa leaders in the industry.

• Attend educational classes to enrich yourself.

• See solar electric panel and wind generator components up close.

• See the latest and greatest in eco-friendly vehicles from local auto dealers.

• Enter your kids into a Wind and Solar Challenge!

• Join in on the bike ride from Hiawatha to Best of Expo 2012!

Keynote Speakers • Tim Dwight, Former Hawkeye and NFL star • Jeremy Symons, NWF - Senior Vice President, Conservation and Education • Bill Leighty, Earth Protection Vice President of the Leighty Foundation

Main Street Events

• Main Street Cultural District Art Walk: 5-8 p.m., June 1, Businesses and artists team up for a fun event.

• Tune in to Main Street Concert Series: begins May 4, Local artists perform a free concert at Tom Evans Park.

• Ames 4th of July Parade and Festival: 11 a.m., Watch the parade on Main St., then head to the festival for food and activities, after the parade, on Burnett Ave.

Summerfest in Campustown

• June 9, noon-9 p.m., Campustown businesses host this second-annual, family-friendly event on Welch Ave., complete with live music, bean bag tournament, face painting and more!

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Summer interns

A very exciting and “green-making” summer is ahead with three interns working with the Live Green! initiative on areas of sustainability focus for Iowa State University.

Glass Waste Diversion Initiative Intern

I am graduating magna cum laude this semester with a Bachelor of Science in Community and Regional Planning and Environmental Studies and a minor in Political Science. I was recently named the 2012 Outstanding Undergraduate of the Year by the American Institute of Certified Planners. In the fall, I will be working toward my Masters in Urban and Regional Planning with an emphasis in Environmental Planning at the University of WisconsinMadison.

My project this summer is a collaborative effort among Facilities Planning and Management, Environmental Health and Safety and Live Green! and focuses on collecting information about the glass waste stream at Iowa State University, with a particular interest in the glass waste coming out of the labs around campus. I will be gathering data about our waste stream, such as types and volume of glass, as well as looking for solutions to some of the problems inherent with the handling of glass waste, like what containers work best for ease of disposal and worker safety.

Sustainability Reporting Initiative Intern

This year I have had the opportunity to meet and work with so many amazing students, organizations, faculty and staff – all whom place sustainability at the forefront of their lives and careers. It has been a pleasure to assist in the planning of events, as well as play spokesperson for all the amazing sustainable initiatives happening through campus.

Amanda Jacobson

Website Enhancement and Development Initiative Intern

Through my internship so far, I have focused on Live Green’s printed communication. I am continuing my internship with Live Green! this summer, transitioning to a digital focus. I plan to work with web projects, specifically updating and enhancing the current Live Green! website.

I am graduating this semester, with a degree in Journalism and Mass Communication and minors in History and Political Science.

I will be attending law school in August, and am in the process of choosing among Iowa, Illinois UrbanaChampaign, and Drake.

This summer, I will continue working for Live Green! by gathering information for the AASHE STARS Reporting Program.

In the fall, although I am going to miss ISU, I am very excited to be starting my legal career at Berkeley Law School!

Chandra Peterson

Corrin Hatala

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2012

MAY events

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Support the Graduate Student Horticulture Society by attending its Spring Plant Sale at the new Horticulture Greenhouse. Prices will start at $3-4 for small pots and four packs of annuals, and top off at $20-35 for hanging baskets and large pots.

Peruse and purchase at the Story County Master Gardeners Association Spring Plant Sale and the Ames Garden Club Plant Sale. House plants, nursery stock plants, annuals, hanging baskets, and perennial divisions will be for sale in the Reiman Gardens Maintenance Building Parking Lot.

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Check out the Town Centre, 328 Main Street, for a fun, family-friendly, fundraising event benefitting the Iowa Wildlife Center (IWC)! “Where the Wild Things Are,” will run from 10 a.m.-5 p.m., offering food, live music, unique shopping, and a silent auction to benefit the IWC.

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16-18 Attend the Nutrition and Wellness Research Center Symposium Sustaining Health in a Changing Environment: Creating a Resilient Future at the Gateway Hotel and Conference Center.

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We’d love to hear your comments or questions!

Merry Rankin: Sustainability Director, mrankin@iastate.edu Chandra Peterson: Sustainability Reporting Initiative Intern, chandrap@iastate.edu Corrin Hatala: Website Enhancement and Development Initiative Intern, chatala@iastate.edu Amanda Jacobson: Glass Waste Diversion Initiative Intern, amj220@iastate.edu

Add your event!

Any campus, community, or local event that supports sustainability – environmental, social or economic – can be added to the Live Green! Calendar.

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Head over to Reiman Gardens in honor of National Public Gardens Day! Visit BHG.com to print a voucher for free admission. Other participating gardens include Better Homes & Gardens Test Garden, Brenton Arboretum, Des Moines Botanical Center and Iowa Arboretum.

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